Most companies that want to put out a netbook take a safe and well traveled route, but putting out a machine with extraordinarily ordinary specs: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB to 250GB hard drive, and Windows XP, Windows 7, or maybe a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Linpus Linux Lite. Haleron isn’t most companies.
First, Haleron announced a netbook with two processors, and then the company introduced models with dual core (but single chip) CPUs. Both of those features are virtually unheard of in the netbook space. And now Haleron is shaking things up again with the promise of a new operating system due out on November 15th.
At it’s heart, Haleron’s Ocean OS is yet another Linux distribution. But Haleron’s playing up two key features:
- The ability to run Windows apps
- The ability to run Google Android apps
Windows compatibility will come through WINE. If you’ve ever used WINE on a Linux computer, you know that means that some but not all Windows applications will be able to run on Ocean OS. There’s not much of an explanation on the project web site of the Android compatibility, but there’s been talk about Moblin Linux enabling support for Google Android apps, so it’s probably not surprising that we’re starting to see other Linux distros promise the same.
Ocean OS is based on OpenSUSE, and users will be able to choose from the KDE or GNOME desktop environment and the OS will support 3D desktop effects using Compiz Fusion or kwin/KDE4. You’ll also be able to run a boatload of open source Linux apps including OpenOffice.org, Firefox, GIMP, and PIDGIN. The OS will support WiFi, 3G, and Bluetooth wireless connections.
WINE – Wine Is Not Enough
A dozen years ago the executive summary of WINE was “It can almost run a lot of Windows apps.” And because they have spent their time chasing taillights (not a slam, they pretty much have to do it) and have never been able to invest much effort into stabilizing anything that description is just as accurate today.
Crossover Office is better in that they have a very short list of apps they promise will run, but even then it is with small print.
I liked this better last time around, when it was called Lindows.
Oh wait, no I didn’t.
Lindows was not good at alll. I tried it and was very unhappy. But that was a long time back though.
I want a netbook with one Freescale processor that comes with Goblin (openSuse moblin) preinstalled. I want a 10.1 inch screen, 8 hour battery life and weight under 1 lb.
[…] new, specialised distribution called “Ocean OS” turns out to have been created out of SUSE. A lot of this game has changed since the arrival of SUSE Studio. There is more information here. […]
Haleron All new OS is out Oceans 8. Based on Linux Kernel. Updated systems, drivers, and software. Fast and also have the Amazon Cloud EC2 version